Local Businessman Gives Library $500

Willington News Notes

July 01, 1997

Ken Uppling, owner of Heritage Oil Inc., donated $500 to the Mary D. Edwards Public Library to help it keep up with the changing needs of the community.

``The books on the shelf look awful worn and old,'' said Uppling, whose two children are frequent users of the library. ``I thought maybe they can update some of the stuff they have, maybe some software for their computer.''

Uppling hopes other people will be inspired to donate to educational institutions. The library has already received $275 in donations from other residents. The Friends of the Library group also has been working hard to raise money, raising enough last year to buy a computer.

Uppling said it was time to give back to the community.

``It's a friendly, little town,'' said Uppling, a resident for 22 years. ``The people have been good to me.''

He submitted his donation along with his Willington tax bill. Tax bills now include a form that gives taxpayers the option of donating money directly to a specific town entity.

Librarian Roberta Passardi was excited about the donation. She said she wanted to add children's books, a few classics and a few unabridged books on tape to the 14,000-piece collection of the library, located in the Hall Memorial School building.

Passardi said more people, especially commuters, are requesting books on tape. The unabridged books on tape are more popular, but also more expensive.

Unabridged audio tape collections, which consist of about a dozen tapes, can cost from $60 to $90, while abridged tapes cost about $20. The library is a member of two rotating circuits that lend audio tapes and videotapes to different libraries.